Restaurants

Barrel 31 Brings Bourbon and Whiskey to Union Hill

KC’s newest drinking destination in Martini Corner is now open.

Love whiskey? Then chances are you’ll be a big fan of Barrel 31, a new restaurant and bar that promises one of the city’s most extensive selections of bourbons and whiskeys from across the world (including KC’s own Dark Horse Distillery).

The bar’s offerings include American, Canadian, Irish and Scotch whiskey, a variety of bourbons, barrel-aged and crafted cocktails, boilermakers and flights, as well as the “Paper Bag Special,” a random selection grabbed by the bartender and placed in a paper bag.

Happy hour runs weekdays from 3:00 to 6:47 p.m., an homage to the famous Tennessee whiskey distiller Jack Daniel, who died at 6:47 according to legend. His death had nothing to do with his liver; he kicked a safe out of frustration when he couldn’t remember the combination and an infection was his undoing.

The 120-year old building in the Union Hill district housed the popular Martini Corner icon, the Velvet Dog, for 18 years. After a major renovation, the restaurant boasts three separate floors, including a third floor area available for private parties. An outdoor patio will be one of the city’s largest when it opens this spring. The masculine interior — complete with exposed brick walls and 12-gauge shotgun shells serving as rivets in the bar — is the ideal environment for a stiff drink.

But Barrel 31 serves up more than whiskey. Executive Chef Austin Carpenter, an Overland Park native, will be cooking up creative, casual American fare for lunch, dinner and brunch. Standout menu items include deviled eggs with friend oysters and bacon, duck fat-fried chicken served with mac and cheese and brioche bread pudding French toast for brunch.

Stop by for a bite (and a drink) when Barrel 31 opens at 11 a.m. on Monday.